226 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK oh. 



Walter Pye Smith, Lechmere, Rathbone, C. S. 

 Hodgson, H. R. Grenfell, and G. Howard." 



On March 30 was born his daughter, Irene, 

 now Mrs. H. Pelham. 



As soon as Mr. Gladstone's Home Rule pro- 

 posals were fairly well known, a requisition was 

 presented to the Lord Mayor requesting him to 

 call a public meeting of citizens in the Guildhall. 

 This was held on April 2, and Sir John moved 

 the first resolution of protest against the Bill, 

 which was carried with great enthusiasm. 



Mr. Gladstone introduced his Bill on April 8 

 in a very eloquent speech, which has become 

 historical. 



Sir John voted with the majority which threw 

 out the Home Rule Bill on the second Reading. 

 Having regard to the extremely Liberal character 

 of his Constituency, he had grave doubts whether 

 this vote would not cost him his seat. Under 

 the circumstances it was natural that his re- 

 election should be challenged, and in Mr. Frederic 

 Harrison he met a most formidable opponent. 



The election was fought with great good 

 humour, and resulted in his winning the victory 

 by nearly three to one — 1314 to 516. The 

 Constituency contained above 500 medical men, 

 of whom 495 voted for him and only 43 for 

 Mr. Harrison. 



For some years he had been President of the 

 West Kent Liberal Association, and was surprised 

 one morning to see in the papers a copy of a 

 resolution purporting to have been passed by 

 the Council in favour of Home Rule. No notice 

 of such a resolution had been given, and conse- 



